10-2023 Hyattsville Life & Times

INSIDE FOOD INSECURITY: Three local groups describe how they've adapted their food distribution, P. 2

VOL. 20 NO. 10

HYATTSVILLE’S AWARD-WINNING COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

MORE BIG MACS? Critics respond to a proposed McD's right outside city limits, P. 5

OCTOBER 2023

Cargo train derailment causes road closure, environmental concerns Plastic nurdles curdle relationship between residents and railroad

By Sophie Gorman Oriani and Heather Wright “Nurdles” — these small plastic pieces have a silly-sounding name but are causing serious headaches for derailment cleanup efforts along Alternate Route 1.

In the very early hours of Friday, Sept. 23, as Tropical Storm Ophelia was heading into the region, the Hyattsville Police Department (HPD) sent out an emergency text alerting residents to avoid the area near Baltimore Avenue and Decatur Street due to a derailed train.

According to an HPD Facebook post, 16 train cars, as well as the locomotive, came off the track, including at least one car that rolled over onto its side.

While no one was injured,

the derailed cars damaged the road and tracks, and spilled polyethylene plastic pellets — or nurdles — onto the roadway and surrounding areas. These plastic pellets are the raw material from which plastic products are manufactured — and are a common pollutant of waterways and beaches.

That weekend, the freight company CSX Corp. dispatched cranes to remove train cars from the track, as well as an environmental remediation crew to clean up the nurdle spill — and what was described as a “small fuel spill.” (CSX locomotives primarily use diesel fuel.)

However, a week after the derailment, various community members on the HOPE SEE DERAILMENT ON 10 

One of the train cars that derailed near Alternate Route 1 on Sept. 23 COURTESY OF THE CITY OF HYATTSVILLE

County school board approves eight new schools, including HES

By Shaun Chornobroff After a week-long wait and public complaints from parents, the county school board approved, by a 12-to-1 vote, a preferred developer for eight new schools during a special online board meeting held Sept. 28. The schools, including a

new Hyattsville Elementary School, will be constructed as part of the second phase of the Prince George’s County Blueprint Schools program.

With the board approval, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) acquired permission to finalize contract details with the developer, overcoming

a significant roadblock in the second phase of the Blueprint project. This phase of the project will reach its conclusion by July 15, 2029, according to the board action summary of the approval.

The Blueprint Schools are part of a public-private partnership (often referred to as P3) PGCPS is using as an alternative method of funding its overhaul of outdated buildings. The partnership is one of the first of its kind in the country and is touted for offering a method that reduces both construction costs and time.

PGCPS has the second-oldest school

facilities in the state, with over 40% of its buildings needing construction or complete renovation, according to its website.

In recent years, issues such as out-ofdate facilities, sewage leaking into classrooms and overheated classrooms have been among the reported concerns for parents.

“We’ve been waiting for this building for years and years, and our kids have been suffering,” said Laura Vulanovic, president of the Hyattsville Elementary PTA, SEE SCHOOLS ON 11 

CENTER SECTION: Check out the latest issue of The Hyattsville Reporter, in both English and Español!

THE CITY OF HYATTSVILLE

The Hyattsville Reporter Issue 427| October 2023

Church Place & Gallatin Street New Traffic Patttern road As part of the Church Place & Gallatin Street (pictured above) improvement project, colorful aphart art increase pedestrian has been added to define parking areas, place! safety, and create a new public gathering for leading the Thank you to the Graham Projects team who supported project and all the community members You can learn the community paint day in early October! came to be at more about how the street art pilot project hellohyattsville.com.

Nuevo Esquema de Tráfico para Church Place y Gallatin Street carreteras Church Place ¡Como parte del proyecto de mejorar las arte asfáltico para y Gallatin Street, se ha añadido un colorido aumentar la seguridad delimitar las zonas de estacionamiento, público! de los peatones y crear un nuevo espacio liderar el proyecto ¡Gracias al equipo de Graham Projects por que apoyaron el día de y a todos los miembros de la comunidad Puede aprender pintura comunitaria a principios de octubre! callejero llegó a ser en más sobre cómo el proyecto piloto de arte hellohyattsville.com.

allowed on Church A friendly reminder that no parking is in City lots 3 & 4 off Place. Nearby public parking is available City Building.

Gallatin Streeet, across from the Hyattsville added to Gallatin Additional parking spaces have also been Street.

en Church Le recordamos que no está permitido estacionarse los lotes 3 y 4 de la Place. Hay estacionamiento público en de Hyattsville, Gallatin Street, frente al Edificio Municipal adicionales y se han añadido espacios de estacionamiento información en en la Gallatin Street. Puede encontrar más .

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 2

Forced to adapt, food pantries plan to ‘remain open regardless’

By Trevor Skeen

ST. MARK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

Three years after food pantries confronted the pandemic — and turned to drive-through systems, increased safety protocols or temporary closures — they now face the challenge of a society that is returning to normal for some but not for others.

Food pantry workers, volunteers and coordinators in the Hyattsville area explained that much of the demand triggered by the pandemic remains today, and the numbers back their claim.

According to the Capital Area Food Bank’s (CAFB) 2023 Hunger Report, over the last year, 32% of people in the Washington area did not always know where their next meal would come from. With over 1.2 million people affected in the DMV alone, there are a variety of reasons food insecurity remains prevalent while other parts of society rebound from the pandemic, including “near-record levels of inflation ... and the end of many novel or enhanced federal benefits programs.”

The City of Hyattsville, in conjunction with Prince George’s County and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conducted food distributions each Saturday from November to December 2020, according to a December 2020 Life & Times article. The city ended additional food distributions, held every Tuesday in Driskell Park, in summer of 2022, before starting a monthly produce service at the First United Methodist Church on the third Tuesday of each month.

Although the latest Hunger Report showed that just 54% of food insecure individuals in the region have accessed assistance over the past 12 months, numerous churches, nonprofits and other organizations were available to those who did seek help.

In Hyattsville, one such place is St. Mark’s Catholic Church on Adelphi Road. Doug Jones, who has served as the St. Mark’s food pantry coordinator for nine years, provided a variety of statistics from before, during and after the pandemic, in addition to explaining how their distribution systems changed.

Before COVID-19 spread, clients could come once a month to enter the church, receive two pre-packed bags with a variety of items and select from additional options at a miscellaneous table. Next, from March 2020 to 2022, St. Mark’s transitioned to a drive-through pantry to practice social distancing and maintain safety. Under this system, households were also allowed to receive food more often — on a weekly basis.

Once the pandemic improved, organizers shifted to a grocery store model, in which families returned to coming inside and visiting once a month. This time, however, they were able to browse, select and take items themselves rather than collect the pre-packed bags. St. Mark’s is still using that system now, and Jones said it has a variety of

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The grocery store model at St. Mark’s Catholic Church includes various tables with fruits and vegetables, nonperishable items and other household essentials. COURTESY OF DOUG JONES

upsides.

“The family may pick and choose what they would like because everyone has different tastes — and needs,” Jones said.

Policy changes could have influenced the number of households coming to St. Mark’s, Jones said, in addition to outside factors like poverty and inflation rates. However, he explained that the amount of food distributed fell in 2022 and rose again this year, even though

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the grocery store model was in place throughout that period.

“The amount of donations has significantly decreased this year, while the demand for food has dramatically increased,” Jones said. “We’re doing between 600 and 700 families per month versus the 300 to 400 [we did] in 2022.”

Despite the increased demand at St. Mark’s, CAFB surveys conducted in February 2022 and May 2023 found similar levels of food insecurity in the Washington area. Nonetheless, both datasets show the impact of the pandemic on food insecurity, minority communities and overall inequality in the DMV. Jones said the church served an average of 282 to 306 families in the two years preceding the pandemic. However, during the height of COVID-19 from March 2020 to February 2022, that number jumped to 1,523 households per month.

According to the CAFB 2023 Hunger Report, Black and Hispanic demographics in the DMV are disproportionately affected by food insecurity — representing 44% and 27% of the population facing it, respectively — and St. Mark’s data tells the same story.

“Ninety-nine percent of the families we serve are from a

minority background, of which 90% are of Hispanic heritage,” Jones said.

The majority of St. Mark’s donations come from CAFB, Jones explained, although parishioners, fundraisers and other sources like the City of Hyattsville and University of Maryland have also contributed. While those involved with the pantry have tried “everything possible” to get more support, they are committed to staying open and operational.

“Saint Teresa of Calcutta said that ‘If you can’t feed 100 people, feed one’ — so we’re going to remain open, regardless,” Jones said.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH First Baptist Church on 42nd Avenue operates another food pantry in Hyattsville, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month. Volunteers at this pantry also considered applying for distributions from CAFB — but church member Diane Sawtelle said it was a little too complicated for their small operation to handle. In particular, she explained that proposing a monthly budget is difficult when parishioners donate the majority of their products.

Another member, Joyce Page, SEE FOOD PANTRIES ON 3 

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 3

FOOD PANTRIES FROM PAGE 2

said the church only has a regular attendance of about 40 people, but they manage to supply between 30 and 35 people per month with food. The food pantry offers single and double bags depending on family size, although Page said it can be hard to estimate the number of people, size of their households and general level of demand on a monthly basis.

“Normally, we’ll sit here and give out all those bags,” Page said. “Just now, we had to go stuff some more because we still had people waiting — and we try to make sure everybody leaves with something.”

Prior to the pandemic, the food pantry at First Baptist ran a grocery store model, where clients could go downstairs to the storage area, browse available items and make selections based on group size.

However, after closing during the pandemic and reopening in the summer of 2021, they switched to their current system of bagging items donated by parishioners, collecting relevant information — like names, family size and place of residence — and exchanging food at the door.

Volunteers at First Baptist Church sit at tables and face the doors to distribute food once people arrive. TREVOR SKEEN

Page also said that First Baptist gets a lot of regular monthly clients, including some from Friendship Arms Apartments, which is a community for elderly and disabled populations up the street. However, they get new visitors from farther away, as well — last month, someone drove for an hour each way to pick up food, she noted.

Going into the holiday season, Page said they hope to collect turkeys, stuffing mixes and other Thanksgiving staples, along with winter attire. But like other food pantry volunteers, she said they will wait to see what hap-

pens.

“We have to adapt based on how much food we have at the time,” Page said. “Sometimes we don’t have as much as others, but we try.”

MEALS ON WHEELS COLLEGE PARK Another organization, Meals on Wheels of College Park (MOWCP), specifically focuses on feeding the elderly population. Intake Coordinator Maria Newsom said volunteers at the nonprofit deliver meals to homebound members of the senior community. Their service

features a light breakfast, lunch and dinner available during weekdays, for $5 a day.

Despite being based in College Park, Newsom said MOWCP serves many other areas, including Hyattsville, Greenbelt, Beltsville and parts of Riverdale Park. Newsom added that, given their limited resources and volunteers, they are sometimes forced to turn down requests for assistance from those outside their normal service area.

But unlike St. Mark’s, First Baptist and other organizations during the pandemic, MOWCP kept its food delivery model in

place. They even added new volunteers who were furloughed, terminated or otherwise unable to work amid the pandemic.

However, Newsom said they are currently looking for more volunteers.

“A lot of people have gone back to work, started back at school [or] have moved away, so we’re always looking for volunteers in our kitchen and for delivery services,” she said.

According to a May 2020 Life & Times article, MOWCP served about 75 clients before the pandemic. Newsom said that number increased to about 200 people during the peak, and it currently stands at around 160.

She added that, despite facing challenges, the organization has recruited quality volunteers to address the needs of their clients.

“It’s been difficult, but we manage to attract very fine people,” Newsom said. “The people we have are just phenomenal.”

A more comprehensive list of food pantry resources in Hyattsville and Prince George’s County can be found on the Prince George’s Food Equity Council website, which maps locations, provides information, and is updated weekly.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 4

LIFE & TIMES LOCAVORE

Creativity and connection — community gardens in Hyattsville

By Imke Ahlf-Wien

T

he Hyatt Park Community Garden is a lush oasis nestled amidst the urban hubbub of Hamilton Street and the comings and goings at the Bestway Supermarket, right across the road. For years, I’ve been impressed by the variety of vegetables and flowers grown here.

According to its website, the Hyatt Park Community Garden was founded in 2011 on land that housed the since-demolished Jack and Jill Day Nursery.

After the land was purchased by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the City of Hyattsville has been allowed to use the entire property for a community park, and has added a playground and picnic area.

According to Katie Ablard,

Blooming sunchokes at the Hyatt Park Community Garden COURTESY OF RICCARDO C.

Top-ranked in the DC metro area

one of the garden’s current volunteer co-leads, the membership-based Hyatt Park Community Garden consists of about 32 plots, each 15 by 15 feet. Several members have been around since the early days, but five to 10 plots usually open up each year to those on the waitlist.

Ablard shows me around the garden on a cloudy early-September evening. She radiates a passion for gardening that is deeply inspiring. Her plot, like many others, is filled with both produce and flowers. The bright orange zinnias don’t only look beautiful, they also attract pollinators to fertilize the plants.

Gardening is a form of relaxation that helps her enter a flow state and forget time, says Ablard, who spends up to four hours a week at her plot. She adds that nurturing a plant is so satisfying, and being part of

a community garden lets you meet people who share your passion.

The many different cultural backgrounds of members currently gardening at Hyatt Park make for a striking diversity of produce, such as purple hyacinth bean — more commonly known in India — that is grown

by Raja N.. This diversity is highlighted when we talk to Riccardo C., who has stopped by his plot to pick produce for dinner. Like Ablard, he’s been a member since 2011, and gardening seems second nature to him. His crops this year include eggplants, tomatoes, sunchokes (which inspired the recipe on p. 7), the Italian variety tromboncino squash, and the tiny Mexican sour gherkin.

Here, you can grow vegetables that are hard to find in grocery stores or farmers markets.

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Page 5

McDonald’s plans a controversial new construction in Lewisdale

of this motion. Sanchez, who believes this development will have direct implications for the area’s traffic network and community environment, has played a key role in communicating citizen concerns to the district council and local government.

“There’s already two McDonald’s in proximity, so we don’t really need a third one,” Sanchez said.

Many residents of the area would like more diverse and healthy dining alternatives, according to Sanchez.

“The people with children are

not happy about their kids having exposure to more poor food choice options,” he said. “If it was up to McDonald’s, there would be one on every corner, and we prefer something better.”

César Chávez Dual Spanish Immersion School is located just down the road from the proposed lot. Some César Chávez parents have expressed concerns about this McDonald’s increasing unhealthy food options and creating dangerous traffic patterns for their children to navigate.

Catalan said there is absolutely no need for another McDonald’s in the area. “We are literally surrounded by fast food,” she noted.

With the intersection located just a short walk from the elementary school, students who walk to or from school will now have easy access to yet another poor food option, the PTO president explained.

Catalan shared the frustration of César Chávez teachers, who she said are required to travel up to 20 minutes for a healthy lunch option. “Our teachers have a hard time getting food in the area. If they don't pack a lunch and they need to go run and get something, there isn’t really anything that they can get that's wholesome,” she said.

Catalan also detailed the traffic

dangers the drive-thru would impose on the César Chávez community. Ager Road is actively utilized by pedestrians and cyclists.

“Right now, our school is in the middle of trying to get the Maryland State Highway Administration to see that we have a pretty serious traffic problem coming in and out of the school,” Catalan said. The school’s traffic problem is related to the congested nearby intersection of Riggs Road and East-West Highway. The issue could worsen if this McDonald’s increased traffic in the area.

In the past year, according to Catalan, a grandparent of a César Chávez student was brought to the hospital after their vehicle was struck while turning out of the East-West Highway and Ager Road intersection.

The Stop McDonald’s webpage, created by a coalition of locals, notes that this McDonald’s would increase traffic, leading to more pollution and decreased cyclist and pedestrian safety. Sanchez clarified that this McDonald’s would be strictly a drive-thru location, without any dine-in seating.

“We don't want more cars driving through and creating potential risks for pedestrians walking along the sidewalk,” Sanchez said.

The Life & Times contacted the McDonald’s Corp. for responses

to these concerns. The corporation had not responded as of press time.

Earlier this year, the ChillumRay Citizens Association played a key role in preventing the construction of a Royal Farms gas station that would have torn down a neighborhood playground. Royal Farms had applied to build a 16-pump gas station and store at the southeastern corner of Riggs Road and EastWest Highway abutting the Sligo Creek Trail, but withdrew the application in January 2023.

Sanchez said he attended a meeting held in early September by the McDonald’s Corp., during which he heard members of the Chillum–Ray Civic Association voice their opposition to this McDonald’s location.

No decision regarding the approval of McDonald’s proposal has been confirmed. Sanchez said the coalition of residents responsible for the Stop McDonald’s webpage hope to coordinate a virtual meeting with the civic association, during which they can discuss their shared concerns about the general direction of the area’s development.

Adelia McGuire is an undergraduate journalism and business student at the University of Maryland.

F Sa or le

New in Hyattsville & Mount Rainier!

F Sa or le

McDonald's wants to bring even more Big Macs and fries to the area. The corporation is making plans to construct a new restaurant in Lewisdale. However, a group of local citizens have united to discourage the planning and zoning departments of Prince George’s County from granting approval of this construction.

The proposed lot is located in the Green Meadows Shopping Center at the intersection of East-West Highway (MD-410) and Ager Road. Upon approval, the construction of this McDonald’s would involve the demolition of woods located in proximity to the site, as well as the replacement of a local Salvadoran restaurant.

McDonald’s Corp., which operates out of Chicago, is pushing to build in this location due to the congested nature of this intersection, which the company finds desirable for a drive-thru.

According to some citizens, however, the presented construction plan of this additional McDonald’s poses a multitude of negative impacts on the community, including increased traffic and more unhealthy dining options.

Community activist Alexi Sanchez and César Chávez PTO President Ilse Denisse Catalan have both spoken out against McDonald’s coming into this location.

Sanchez has been highly involved in organizing initiatives to combat the county's approval

The Stop McDonald’s webpage, created by a coalition of locals, notes that this McDonald’s would increase traffic, leading to more pollution and decreased cyclist and pedestrian safety.

F Sa or le

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 6

RE-WILDING ROUTE 1

A royal river of orange

By Rick Borchelt

F

rom October until the first frosts, a river of orange flows through Maryland — a river of monarch butterflies, that is — ­­ that begins as a trickle in Canada’s Maritime Provinces and ends as a torrent that inundates whole mountain forests in Mexico.

For most of this month, monarchs (Danaus plexippus) in the eastern U. S. will use Maryland’s beaches, meadows, marshes

and gardens as stopovers where they replenish their energy to fuel a migration that can be several thousand miles long.

Nectar is their fuel of choice, and they need copious amounts to make it to their wintering grounds.

Not that long ago, most eastern monarchs migrated south right along the Atlantic shoreline, taking advantage of the near-constant sea breeze to coast, not flap, conserving energy until they cleared the tip of

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the Appalachians and made a sharp westward turn, on course for Mexico. Along the way, they would refuel with nectar from once-abundant seaside goldenrod, a flower specially adapted to life on the coast. Indeed, dunes from Cape Cod to Cape Canaveral were once carpeted with gold.

Today, however, most of those coastal dunes have been transformed into seaside developments that have pushed the monarch’s migration route inland to find nectar, away from the coast. The consequences of this westward shift are dramatic: Without sea breezes, monarchs have to flap more than glide, and they lose energy with each flap. Seaside goldenrod is scarcer now, and the plants that remain are patchily distributed, so the much-needed nectar is harder for monarchs to find.

Fewer and fewer monarchs have the stamina to reach their southern overwintering sites.

Much has been written in the past two or three decades about whether monarchs are in imminent peril of extinction in North America. It’s helpful to keep in mind that monarchs really represent three distinct populations in the United States: our east-

A female monarch refuels in the Coogans’ yard in College Park before continuing her southward migration. RICK BORCHELT

ern butterflies, a midwestern population that overspreads the Great Plains and prairies into Canada, and a small western cohort that moves up into the mountain meadows of the Rockies in the summer and winters in eucalyptus groves along the Pacific. Eastern populations seem to be doing the best; the annual count passing through a long-standing monarch watch location in Cape May, N.J., has been relatively

steady for decades.

We’re also just learning that not all monarchs end up in Mexico, either, where observers perform the most precise annual monarch census. Scientists in recent years have discovered that at least a few of our local migrants don’t take that turn west but keep heading south to Florida, from where they stage their spring comeback when the weather warms up.

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The Hyattsville Reporter Issue 427| October 2023

Church Place & Gallatin Street New Traffic Patttern

Nuevo Esquema de Tráfico para Church Place y Gallatin Street

As part of the Church Place & Gallatin Street road improvement project, colorful aphart art (pictured above) has been added to define parking areas, increase pedestrian safety, and create a new public gathering place!

¡Como parte del proyecto de mejorar las carreteras Church Place y Gallatin Street, se ha añadido un colorido arte asfáltico para delimitar las zonas de estacionamiento, aumentar la seguridad de los peatones y crear un nuevo espacio público!

Thank you to the Graham Projects team for leading the project and all the community members who supported the community paint day in early October! You can learn more about how the street art pilot project came to be at hellohyattsville.com.

¡Gracias al equipo de Graham Projects por liderar el proyecto y a todos los miembros de la comunidad que apoyaron el día de pintura comunitaria a principios de octubre! Puede aprender más sobre cómo el proyecto piloto de arte callejero llegó a ser en hellohyattsville.com.

A friendly reminder that no parking is allowed on Church Place. Nearby public parking is available in City lots 3 & 4 off Gallatin Streeet, across from the Hyattsville City Building.

Additional parking spaces have also been added to Gallatin Street.

Le recordamos que no está permitido estacionarse en Church Place. Hay estacionamiento público en los lotes 3 y 4 de la Gallatin Street, frente al Edificio Municipal de Hyattsville, y se han añadido espacios de estacionamiento adicionales en la Gallatin Street. Puede encontrar más información en HelloHyattsville.com.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

¡NECESITAMOS SU OPINIÓN!

While work progresses on the interior of the City’s new Teen Center on 40th Ave & Nicholson, the City and the Neighborhood Design Center are looking for community feedback to design the surrounding park! Head to HelloHyattsville.com by October 25 to share your thoughts on potential future uses of the space.

Mientras se trabaja en el interior del nuevo Centro de Jóvenes de la Ciudad en la 40th Avenue y Nicholson Street, ¡la Ciudad y el Neighborhood Design Center están buscando la opinión de la comunidad para diseñar el parque de alrededor! Visite HelloHyattsville. com antes del 25 de octubre para compartir tus opiniones sobre los posibles usos futuros del espacio.

The Hyattsville Reporter | October 2023 | Page 1

ANNOUNCEMENTS |

ANUNCIOS

FREE COVID-19 TESTS & REMINDERS

PRUEBAS GRATUITAS DE COVID-19 Y RECORDATORIOS

As we enter the cold and flu season, protect yourself and your family with the latest COVID-19 and flu vaccines!

Schedule your appointment through your healthcare provider or visit vaccines.gov to find free or low cost local vaccination opportunities.

A medida que nos adentramos en la temporada de resfriados y gripe, ¡protégete a ti y a tu familia con las últimas vacunas COVID-19 y contra la gripe! Programe su cita a través de su proveedor de atención médica o visite vaccines.gov para encontrar oportunidades de vacunación locales gratuitas o de bajo costo.

THE GOATS ARE BAAACCK!

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SENIOR TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS

TALLERES DE TECNOLOGÍA PARA LA TERCERA EDAD

All U.S. households are again eligible for up to four free at-home COVID-19 test kits, courtesy of the U.S. federal government. You must provide your name and residential mailing address to have the kits delivered directly to your home. Visit covid.gov/test or call 1-800-232-0233 to order your kits.

A team of grazing goats will be working hard at Driskell Park starting the week of October 24 to remove vines, poison ivy, and other invasive species harming tree growth! The goats will feast away in a penned area near the trailhead along the Northwest Branch. Please keep in mind that these are working goats that should be admired from a distance. The fence surrounding the pen is electrified! You can keep up with the goats once they arrive through the City’s social media accounts.

The Hyattsville Branch Library in partnership with the City, is facilitating senior technology training workshops at the Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. on Monday, October 16, 23, and 30 from 1-3 p.m. Contact seniors@hyattsville.org or call (301) 985-5000 to register.

DINING WITH DIABETES

The UMD Extension, Hyattsville Branch Library, and City of Hyattsville are continuing the Dining with Diabetes classes for older adults on Tuesday, October 17 and 24 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Library, at 6530 Adelphi Rd. Participants are taught how to prepare healthy meals, increase physical activity, and monitor their ‘numbers.’ Spaces are still available! Register at pgcmls.info/events. Call (301) 9855000 if you need transportation from the City’s Call-A-Bus.

YOUTH CENTER PROGRAMS & TUTORING

Teen Center Programs are back at Driskell Park! Drop-in hours for the Teen Center are from 3 – 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday with special programming from 5 – 6 p.m. Sign up your student or a free membership by visiting hyattsville. org/teen-center.

The City offers tutoring and mentoring services through Northstar Tutoring for local students in grades K – 12 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 6:30 – 8 p.m., at the Driskell Park Recreation Center. Students are matched with a volunteer tutor & mentor to help them with their learning needs. Learn more at hyattsville.org/tutoring.

LEAF IT ALONE!

Todos los hogares pueden para recibir un máximo de cuatro kits de pruebas COVID-19 gratuitos, por cortesía del gobierno federal. Debe proveer su nombre y dirección postal para que le envíen los kits directamente a su hogar. Visite covid.gov/test o llame al 1-800-232-0233 para solicitar los kits.

A partir de la semana del 24 de octubre, un equipo de cabras trabajará duro en el parque Driskell para eliminar enredaderas, hiedra venenosa y otras especies invasoras que dañan el crecimiento de los árboles. Las cabras se darán un festín en una zona cerrada al público a lo largo del sendero Northwest Branch. Tenga en cuenta que las cabras trabajadoras deben ser admiradas desde la distancia. ¡La cerca que rodea el corral está electrificada! Puede estar al tanto de la llegada de las cabras a través de las redes sociales de la Ciudad.

La Biblioteca Hyattsville, en colaboración con la Ciudad, esta facilitando talleres de tecnológica para adultos mayores en la Biblioteca, 6530 Adelphi Rd. el 16, 23 y 30 de octubre de 1 - 3 p.m. Inscríbase con seniors@hyattsville.org o (301) 985-5000.

COMIENDO CON DIABETES

La Extensión UMD, Biblioteca de Hyattsville, y la Ciudad de Hyattsville están continuando la serie de clases de Comer con Diabetes para los adultos mayores el martes 17 y 24 de octubre de 2-3:30 p.m. en la Biblioteca, en 6530 Adelphi Rd. Los participantes aprenderán a preparar comidas saludables, aumentar la actividad física y controlar sus “números”. ¡Todavía hay espacio! Inscríbase en pgcmls.info/events. Llame al (301) 985-5000 si necesita transporte.

¡PROGRAMAS DEL CENTRO JUVENIL Y TUTORÍA

¡Los programas del Centro de Juvenil están de regreso en el Parque Driskell! El horario del Centro Juvenil es de 3 - 5 p.m. de lunes a jueves con programación especial de 5 - 6 p.m. Inscribá a su estudiante para una membresía gratuita visitando hyattsville.org/teen-center.

La Ciudad ofrece servicios de tutoría y mentoría a través de Northstar Tutoring para los estudiantes locales en los grados K - 12 los martes, miércoles y jueves, de 6:30 - 8 p.m., en el Centro Recreativo de Driskell Park. Estudiantes serán asignados con un tutor y mentor para ayudarles con su aprendizaje.

Encuentre más información en hyattsville.org/tutoring.

RECOLECCIÓN DE HOJAS

Weekly leaf collection for residential streets within City limits will begin in November and continue through mid-January. Commercial and multi-family properties are not included. Collection is weather dependent as heavy, wet leaves harm the machinery. To learn more, visit hyattsville. org/leaves or call (301) 985-5032.

La recolección semanal de hojas para calles residenciales dentro de los limites de la Ciudad comenzará en noviembre y continuará hasta mediados de enero. Las propiedades comerciales y multifamiliares no están incluidas. La recolección depende del clima, ya que las hojas húmedas dañan la maquinaria. Para obtener más info, visite hyattsville.org/ leaves.

If raking leaves to the curb is not your idea of fun, try mowing them into your lawn for a natural mulch instead!

Leaves can also be added to your green City compost bins or left curbside in yard waste bags for pick up on Mondays.

Si juntar las hojas no es su idea de diversión, ¡intente cortarlas en su césped para mulch natural! Las hojas también se pueden agregar a su contendedor de compostaje o bolsas reciclables para la recolección los lunes.

Page 2 | October 2023 | The Hyattsville Reporter

CALENDAR SENIORFIT+ CLASSES The City offers seated exercise classes on Wednesdays from 10 - 11 AM at the Hyattsville City Building. Classes are free and drops-ins are welcome! hyattsville.org/seniors.

FREE ZUMBA CLASSES Wednesdays from 4 - 5 PM at the Hyattsville City Building! Learn more at hyattsville.org/wellness.

SENIORS ON THE GO!

Join neighbors & friends for special trips this October!

Reserve a seat for a trip by calling (301) 985-5000 by 2 PM the Wednesday before the trip: • •

Oct. 12, 10 AM - 2 PM: Amish Market & Walmart in Laurel, MD Oct. 26, 10 AM - 2 PM: Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

NIGHT OWLS

Enjoy a Friday night out on October 13 by dropping off your little one(s) at the Driskell Park Rec Center from 6 - 9 PM for an evening of fun! hyattsville.org/nightowls.

ZOMBIE RUN

The annual Zombie Run, organized by the Hyattsville Elementary PTA, is on October 14 in Driskell Park!

Register to participate and view a map of the race and street closures at hyattsville. org/calendar.

HVFD OPEN HOUSE

The Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Deparment (HVFD) invites you to their open house on October 14 from 11 AM - 3 PM at 6200 Belcrest Rd. Details at hyattsville.org/calendar.

PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION

The City is hosting a produce distribution on October 17, starting at noon, at the First United Methodist Church. The bagged produce is first-come, first-served.

NARCAN TRAININGS

Free NARCAN community trainings at the City Building on October 19 at 6 PM and October 20 at 10 AM. Register at hyattsville.org/ calendar.

MINI-CAMP DAY

Register your student (grades K-5) for a mini-day camp on October 20! The session is from 9 AM - 3 PM at Driskell Park. Learn more at hyattsville.org/camps.

GREEN SUMMIT

Prince George’s County is hosting its 9th Green Summit on from 10 AM - 3 PM October 21 in Driskell Park!

Learn more at mypgc.us/ greensummit.

| DIAPER DISTRIBUTION

The City is hosting a free diapers distribution on October 27, starting at 11 AM, at the Hyattsville City Building. No registration is required, but proof of child’s date of birth is needed. hyattsville.org/calendar.

DRUG TAKE BACK DAY

Get rid of unwanted prescriptions, medicines, vapes, and more on October 28 from 10 AM - 2 PM at the City Building - no questions asked!

ECONOMIC DEV. WEEK Maryland Economic Development Week is from October 23 - 27! Follow the City’s social media as we spotlight businesses and developments happening in Hyattsville!

CERT MEETING

The next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) organization meeting is October 25, 6 - 8 PM, at the Hyattsville City Building.

Anyone is welcome. Register at hyattsville.org/cert.

CPR TRAININGS

The City is offering free CPR trainings in English and Spanish on October 26 from 6:30 - 9 PM at the Hyattsville City Building. Register at hyattsville.org/calendar.

HALLOWEEN IN HYATTSVILLE!

BÚHOS NOCTURNOS

¡Disfrute de un viernes el 13 de octubre dejando a su(s) pequeño(s) en el Centro Recreativo Driskell Park de 6 - 9 PM para una noche de diversión! hyattsville.org/ nightowls.

CARRERA DE ZOMBIS

¡La carrera anual de Zombis, organizada por la PTA de Hyattsville Elementary, es el 14 de octubre en Driskell Park! Regístrese para participar y vea el mapa de la carrera y cierres de calles en hyattsville.org/calendar.

EXHIBICIÓN DE BOMBEROS

El Departamento de Bomberos Voluntarios de Hyattsville (HVFD) lo invita a conocer a su estación el 14 de octubre de 11 AM a 3 PM en 6200 Belcrest Rd. Detalles en hyattsville.org/ calendar.

GROWING GREEN WITH PRIDE

Join neighbors and other Prince Georgians for a countywide community clean-up day on October 21! The City will be hosting a clean-up as part of the County’s Green Summit from 10 AM - 1 PM. Learn more and register at hyattsville.org/ calendar.

CALENDARIO

CLASES DE EJERCICIOS SENTADOS

La Ciudad ofrece clases de ejercicios sentados los miércoles de 10 - 11 AM. en el Edificio Municipal de Hyattsville. ¡Las clases son gratuitas y las visitas son bienvenidas! hyattsville.org/ seniors.

ZUMBA GRATIS

Cada miércoles de 4 - 5 PM en el Edificio Municipal de Hyattsville. Detalles en hyattsville.org/wellness.

VIAJES PARA LA TERCERA EDAD

¡Únase a vecinos y amigos para viajes especiales este octubre! Reserve un asiento para un viaje llamando al (301) 985-5000 antes de las 2 p.m. del miércoles anterior al viaje: • •

12 de oct., 10AM-2PM: Mercado Amish & Walmart en Laurel, MD 26 de oct., 10AM-2PM: Museo Smithsonian del Aire y Espacio

Join us for a day full of fun costumes and candy on October 28 with our Treat-ORama and Trunk-Or-Treat!

The Treat-O-Rama will be at Driskell Park from 4 – 6 p.m. and feature spooky activities and a candy giveaway. The fun then shifts over to the Northwestern High School parking lot from 6 – 8:30 p.m. with our Police Department’s Trunk-Or-Treat! Details at hyattsville.org/calendar.

COMIDA GRATIS

La Ciudad organizará una distribución de productos ágricolas el 17 de octubre al mediodía en la Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida. La comida se distribuye por orden de llegada.

ENTRENAMIENTOS NARCAN

Entrenamientos gratis de NARCAN en el Edificio Municipal el 19 de octubre a las 6 PM y el 20 de octubre a las 10 AM. Regístrese en hyattsville.org/calendar.

MINICAMPAMENTO

¡Registre a su estudiante (grados K-5) para un mini campamento el 20 de octubre! La sesión es de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m. en Driskell Park. Más información en hyattsville.org/camps.

CUMBRE VERDE

¡El Condado Prince George’s está organizando su 9ª Cumbre Verde de 10 AM a 3 PM el 21 de octubre en Driskell Park! Más info en mypgc.us/greensummit.

CRECIENDO VERDE CON ORGULLO

¡Únete a vecinos para un día de limpieza de la comunidad en todo el Condado el 21 de octubre! La Ciudad organizará una limpieza como parte de la Cumbre Verde del Condado de 10 AM a 1 PM. Obtenga más información y regístrese en hyattsville.org/calendar.

SEMANA DE DESAROLLO ECÓNOMICO

¡La Semana de Desarrollo Económico de Maryland es del 23 al 27 de octubre! ¡Siga las redes sociales de la Ciudad mientras destacamos los negocios y desarrollos en Hyattsville!

EQUIPO CERT

La próxima reunión de organización del Equipo de Respuesta a Emergencias Comunitarias es el 25 de octubre, 6 - 8 PM, en el Edificio Municipal. Todos son bienvenidos. Regístrese en hyattsville.org/cert.

CLASES DE RCP

La Ciudad está ofreciendo clases gratuitas de RCP en inglés y español el 26 de octubre de 6:30 - 9 PM en el Edificio Municipal de Hyattsville. Regístrese en hyattsville.org/calendar.

PAÑALES GRATIS

La Ciudad está organizando una distribución gratuita de pañales el 27 de octubre, a partir de las 11 AM, en el Edificio Municipal de Hyattsville. No se requiere registro, pero se necesita prueba de la fecha de nacimiento del niño. hyattsville.org/calendar.

DEVOLUCIÓN DE MEDICAMENTOS

Deshágase de recetas, medicamentos, vaporizadores y más no deseados el 28 de octubre de 10 AM a 2 PM en el Edificio Municipal - ¡ no hacemos preguntas!

¡HALLOWEEN EN HYATTSVILLE!

¡Acompáñenos paras un día lleno de diversión, disfraces y dulces el 28 de octubre con nuestros eventos Treat-O-Rama y Trunk-OrTreat! El Treat-O-Rama será en Driskell Park de 4 - 6 p.m. y contará con actividades espeluznantes y un regalo de dulces. La diversión se traslada después al lote de estacionamiento Northwestern High School de 6 – 8:30 p.m. con el Trunk-Or-Treat del Departamento de Policía. Detalles en hyattsville.org/calendar.

The Hyattsville Reporter | October 2023 | Page 3

HIGHLIGHTS | LO DESTACADO

Page 4 | October 2023 | The Hyattsville Reporter

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 7

LOCAVORE

Smashed sunchokes (serves 4)

FROM PAGE 4

gardens — such as the one located at Hyattsville Elementary School — soon followed in many U.S. cities, especially in neighborhoods with large immigrant and lower-income populations. In 1917, when the U.S. entered World War I, “a need for food … became the primary motivation for cultivating community gardens,” known as “liberty gardens” or “war gardens.” Some readers may remember the “victory gardens” of the 1940s that were strongly supported by the U.S. government due to the “health, recreational, and morale-boosting effects of gardening,” after the nation entered World War II. If you are interested in joining the Hyatt Park Community Garden, visit its website, hyattparkcommunitygarden.com. There’s a $30 annual fee and a requirement of four service hours a year. Use the QR code on this page to join the waitlist directly. As of press time, the waitlist stood at about seven people, according to Ablard.

Hyattsville also has another community garden in the making — at Heurich Park in West Hyattsville. Colin Morrison, the city’s former environmental co-

Sunchokes (or Jerusalem artichokes) are related to sunflowers and native to the U.S. They are high in inulin, a prebiotic fiber which is beneficial for a healthy gut microbiome. To reduce its gas-causing effects, add lemon juice to the water when cooking. Sunchokes are sold in the fall at local farmers markets and occasionally at grocery stores.

Ingredients: 1 pound sunchokes, rinsed and trimmed juice of ½ lemon 1 tablespoon sea salt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Directions: Members of the Hyatt Park Community Garden (from left to right: Riccardo C., Katie A., Vicki F., Katy K., Julia C., Raja N. and Edward C.) attended a September potluck despite heavy rain. IMKE AHLF-WIEN SCAN TO JOIN THE HYATT PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN WAITLIST

ordinator, explained that it will have a total of about 16 plots, some of which will be wheelchair accessible. It will open some time in 2024, according to Dawn Taft, the city’s environmental programs manager.

Cindy Zork, Hyattsville’s communications manager, recommended signing up for city updates at hyattsville.org/1031/ City-Communications.

Imke Ahlf-Wien is a nutrition educator with a passion for fresh, locally procured foods.

Several Hyatt Park Community Garden members requested that only their first names and last initials be used in this column.

Place the sunchokes in a medium saucepan and cover with water; add lemon juice and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until softened. Drain the sunchokes, and let them cool for 5 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 450 F. Move the sunchokes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and smash carefully with a fork. Place the baking sheet in the oven, and roast for 10 to 15 minutes until crispy. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When it starts to brown, add the thyme, stir for a few seconds, and then remove from heat. Drizzle the herbed butter on top, and serve immediately.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 8

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Rake it or leave it?

Dear Miss Floribunda, I came to the talk by Kathy Jentz (editor of Washington Gardener and author of Groundcover Revolution) at My Dead Aunt’s Books in September, and I’m still thinking about what she called “leaf-swallowing” plants. She said that, planted under trees, they would hide the fallen leaves you ordinarily might rake up. I don’t remember all the reasons she gave for letting the leaves stay on the ground. but raking leaves is one chore I’d really like not to bother with anymore. Leaf blowers are too noisy. The only plant she mentioned that I remember now was lamb’s ear. Please jog my memory.

Beleaguered by Leaves on Livingston Street Dear Beleaguered, Before I share Ms. Jentz’s specific recommendations, I’d like you to know that there is a growing movement to discourage homeowners from raking up leaves and making piles of them. Leaves left on the ground provide shelter and nutrition for beneficial insects, and they provide food for over-wintering birds. They are not the hotbeds of disease they have been previously accused of being. Raked into large piles, however, they generate methane gas that contributes to global warming.

Nonetheless, there are some rea-

sons not to leave them on lawns, not the least of which is that they would blow all over your neighborhood, into the yards of unoffending neighbors who would then have to contend with them, as well as into storm drains. If they don’t clog the drains, they make their way into the Chesapeake Bay, where they can contribute to algae blooms and dead zones.

You can use your lawn mower to cut fallen leaves up into small bits that provide the grass with a fine mulch to protect their root systems during winter cold, but there are certain ground covers that don’t die back in winter and, consequently, will anchor leaves beneath their foliage.

Ms. Jentz recommended lamb’s ear (Stachys) in passing, but the plants she seemed particularly to favor were Epimedium aka fairy wings, bishop’s hat, barrenwort — and so many other aliases that we might as well stick with the Latin; Helleborus aka Lenten or Christmas rose; Polystichum acrostichoides, aka Christmas fern; and Heuchera americana aka coral bells. While lamb’s ear shelters the leaves that reach them, it requires full sun, while the other leaf-swallowers thrive in the dry shade beneath big trees where most leaves accumulate.

I have shade-loving hellebores and love them because not only do they gather fallen leaves beneath their broad evergreen foliage, they also bloom continuously for almost six weeks in late winter and early spring when the garden is at its most desolate.

Now, after listening to Ms. Jentz praise Epimedium so highly, I do plan to acquire this plant, as well as Heuchera. I will choose the native varieties she recommended — not only for their value to pollinators but because their hairy leaves repel deer and other nibblers. The non-native varieties I planted in the past had smooth leaves that proved to be greatly relished by ruminants. These plants disappeared in one or two grazings.

Looking at charts in Jentz’s book Groundcover Revolution that show the various properties of recommended plants, I see that these include their effectiveness as leaf-swallowers. The native violets I replaced my lawn areas with are among the “somewhat” helpful, but the Solomon’s seals (Polygonatum) that border them are among the best. Deer are not attracted by either of these selections, as I know from personal experience.

Other strongly recommended leaf-swallowing plants include

The hellebore blooms in late winter and early spring.

COURTESY OF MISS FLORIBUNDA

such native ones as Christmas ferns, native Pachysandra, golden ragwort and native strawberries.

Effective non-natives include hardy begonia, liriope, groundcover roses, creeping juniper, creeping raspberries and commercial strawberries.

Lower-growing plants that could replace turf include Pennsylvania sedge, creeping varieties of such herbs as thyme and rosemary, and mondo grass. One caveat: Until the plants are large enough to provide the desired cover, be sure to hose down and keep moist any leaf mulch you add to your beds. This will keep it heavy enough not to blow away. If this is too much trouble, sprinkle topsoil or compost over it as a stabilizer.

Now, some people compost their leaves in bins, and in due time — usually two years — they have good soil to add to their gardens. However, all leaves packed together in quantity are deprived of oxygen — and as they break down, they not only produce methane: Nothing biotic can survive the heat generated within the compacted leaves. Left in place, these leaves break down sooner, after having provided food and shelter to potential pollinators.

To discuss this and other matters, you are invited to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m., in the gracious garden of Joe Buriel and Dave Roeder, at 3909 Longfellow Street. It will be followed by a plant exchange where you may find some of the recommended ground covers for free. I myself acquired my first hellebores at one of these exchanges, and because I now must make room for Heuchera, I’ll bring some seedlings from this prolific plant.

Miss Floribunda writes about gardening for the Life & Times. You may email her at floribundav@gmail. com.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 9

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

O

ur list of events sponsored by local nonprofits, arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between Oct. 10 and Nov. 7; all information is current as of Sept. 8. For events and meetings organized by the City of Hyattsville, see the Hyattsville Reporter in the newspaper’s centerfold.

Please send notices of events that will take place between Nov. 8 and Dec. 11 to managingeditor@hyattsvillelife. com by Nov. 2.

RECURRING Busboys and Poets hosts an open mic for poets every Thursday. $5. 8 to 10 p.m. 5331 Baltimore Ave. 301.779.2787.

Busboysandpoets.com Weekly acoustic blues jams, in the Piedmont blues tradition.

Listeners welcome! Free.

Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m. Archie Edwards Blues Foundation, 4502 Hamilton St. Acousticblues.com Sharpen your drawing skills in a relaxed, informal setting at Hyattsville figure drawing group's drop-in drawing sessions at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center. Bring your own art supplies; drawing boards and chairs provided. $20/session or $75/5-session punch card or $15/session for Pyramid Atlantic members. Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. 4218 Gallatin St. hyattsvillefiguredrawing@gmail. com

OCTOBER 11 The Encanto Dance Team presents Latin Rhythms: Salsa Dance Workshop. Get ready to groove to infectious Latin rhythms during Hispanic Heritage Month. This exhilarating workshop, for both kids and adults, promises a lively and enjoyable experience for seasoned dancers and beginners. Free.

Register through pgcmls.info/ events. 6 to 7 p.m. Hyattsville Public Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451

OCTOBER 13 Come to karaoke night at Maryland Meadworks! Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

OCTOBER 18 Come view “Blues Houseparty” (1989, 58 min.) at the Hyattsville Public Library, in celebration of Archie Edwards Blues Heritage

Foundation’s 25th anniversary.

In the movie, some of America's greatest traditional blues artists get together to swap songs and stories of the old days when blues flourished at country blues house parties. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451

OCTOBER 19 Band Brûlée, whose original songs include “In Defence of a Blue Shower Curtain,” performs at the Riverdale Park Farmers Market. Brûlée’s music ranges from jazz ballads to bouncy indie alt-pop anthems, and from loungy bossa nova to acoustic Americana songwriting. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 4650 Queensbury Rd. rpkfarmmkt@gmail.com

anniversary with a gala celebration at Busboys and Poets, just a few steps from the Barbershop.

Come out and enjoy an evening of food, music and dance. $50 ticket. Visit acousticblues.com and make a $50.00 per ticket donation. Then go to info@acousticblues.com and designate the donation for the gala. 7 to 10 p.m., 5331 Baltimore Ave. 301.779.2787

OCTOBER 26 Spice Cake performs at the Riverdale Park Farmers Market.

Spice Cake blends Yaya Patterson’s vocals with Miles Spicer’s acoustic guitar to create a tasty blues treat. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 4650 Queensbury Rd. rpkfarmmkt@ gmail.com

OCTOBER 20

OCTOBER 27

Free walk-in vision screenings for children, ages 18 months to 18 years, presented by the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington.

10 a.m. to noon. Hyattsville Public Library. 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451

Kick off Maryland Meadworks’ fifth anniversary party weekend with a performance by

Come listen to Eleanor Ellis in concert with Jay Summerour.

Ellis, a Louisiana native, has traveled and performed with bluesman Archie Edwards and with gospel street performer Flora Molton. Jay Summerour is one of the most respected harmonica players in the Washington area.

Free. Email info@acousticblues. com to reserve a seat. 8 to 10 p.m. Archie Edwards Blues Foundation, 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com

OCTOBER 21 To honor Archie’s legacy, the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation is marking its 25th

Patapsco Brass Quintet, a group of five friends who regularly get together for camaraderie and brass music. Free, although tipping the band is encouraged. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

3 to 6 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

OCTOBER 31 Get in a “spooky” spirit with outdoor games for kids, ages 5 to 12, on the Hyattsville Branch Library’s terrace. Registration is recommended, through pgcmls. info/events. 4 to 5 p.m. 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451

OCTOBER 28 Join Hyattsville Aging in Place for the next installment of Corridor Conversations to discuss moviemaking at Route 1’s classic theaters, including the historic Greenbelt Cinema. Attendees can join via telephone or Zoom.

Free. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register online at hyattsvilleaginginplace. org.

NOVEMBER 3 The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is honoring senior veterans (aged 60 and better) of Prince George’s County with a special luncheon celebration. Free. Register through pgparksdirect.com.

(Registration deadline is Oct. 20.)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Martin’s Crosswinds, 7400 Greenway Center Dr., Greenbelt. Call 301.446.3400 or email seniors@pgparks.com. with questions.

OCTOBER 29 The Jim Groves Collective plays at Maryland Meadworks, winding down Meadworks’ fifth anniversary party weekend. Free (again, feel free to tip the band!).

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 10

DERAILMENT FROM PAGE 1

(Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment) listserv posted their concerns after visiting the derailment site.

Riverdale Park resident Billy Friebele said he visited the site on Oct. 1. “One of the trains [is] ripped open, and it is still full of pellets,” he noted. “The plastic is already ground into the dirt, spilling into piles, and in the puddles of water. Nothing is being done to prevent them from moving.”

In a follow-up email to the Life & Times, Friebele noted that the area is prone to flooding, and that the crash site is just over the levee that borders the northeast branch of the Anacostia River. “It’s only a matter of time,” Friebele said, “before these plastics wash into the river, affecting not only Hyattsville, but Edmonston, Bladensburg, and all communities downstream.”

Hyattsville Mayor Robert Croslin wrote in an Oct. 2 letter to the community, “CSX is responsible for the clean-up and we are working closely with them and our county, state, and federal partners to ensure the situation is remediated appropriately.”

“CSX’s environmental contractor, Arcadis, is continuing work to clean up the plastic pellets spilled by the derailed cars,” said City Public Information Officer Cindy Zork in an Oct. 6 email. “At our request, they have added silt fences to keep the pellets on the site while that work is underway.

They have also mitigated the surrounding storm drains to keep the pellets from washing into the Anacostia when it rains.”

Trey Sherard, riverkeeper of the nonprofit Anacostia River-

keeper, told the Life & Times that silt fencing was a basic remediation strategy that should have been in place early on to contain the nurdles.

“They’ve [CSX] managed to send out trucks to suck out pellets from cars that weren’t tipped over, but for some reason, they haven’t dealt with any of the pellets that are on the ground,” Sherard said during an Oct. 5 phone interview.

The Maryland Department of the Environment, in a report issued Oct. 2, found CSX out of compliance for solid waste dumping on the site, according to Zork.

CSX had not responded to requests for comment, as of press time.

Croslin noted that city staff and council were communicating with CSX’s environmental team, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency.

At a meeting on Oct. 6 with representatives from the city and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, “Arcadis reported that they walked from the site to the Anacostia and found no evidence of ongoing impact to the river,” Zork said. “Conditions today were documented so they could be reviewed after future storms to evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation efforts.”

As of press time, officials have not announced a timeline for when the repairs and cleanup will be complete — and the cause of the derailment is still under investigation. Croslin’s letter asked residents to continue to avoid the area: “It is an active repair site, and trains are running along the tracks as CSX tests the rails.”

One of the derailed trains containing small plastic pieces, or nurdles, as of Oct. 1 COURTESY OF BILL FRIEBELE

Alternate Route 1 reopened on Oct. 5. A City of Hyattsville Facebook post asked residents to drive slowly and cautiously while cleanup efforts continue.

Mitigation efforts and site stabilization will probably continue for weeks, Hal Metzler, the city’s deputy director of public works, told the city council at their Oct. 2 meeting.

“The remaining rail cars are either being repaired to the point of being able to be placed back on the tracks, or dismantled and taken off site for repair. We have heard this process could take a few weeks,” Zork noted. “The clean-up ef-

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forts are being coordinated with the repairs so that pellets adjacent to or under the rail cars can be dealt with once the cars are removed.”

About 1,000 derailments occur across the country every year — which translates to about three each day — according to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) data.

Reasons for derailments include defective or broken railroads, equipment failure, human error, track obstructions or mechanical malfunctions, and weather.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FRA often conduct investigations of major train derailments, which can take months, or even years, according to a 2023 Washington Post article. At the city council meeting, City Administrator Tracey Douglass said she was not sure who was in charge of this investigation but that she would continue to keep the council informed.

According to the city, resi-

dents with questions, comments, or concerns regarding the train derailment should email train@hyattsville.org, to keep all the information centrally located.

Sherard said that Anacostia Waterkeeper has drafted an advocacy letter that residents can use and adapt to send to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), who is conducting the oversight of this case. He added that residents concerned about pollution in and around the Anacostia River should send their concerns and relevant photos to info@anacostiariverkeeper. org — or complete the pollution report form on the Anacostia Riverkeeper website, anacostiariverkeeper.org.

“This [derailment] speaks broadly to the dangers inherent to shipping lots of stuff through the backyards of where people live,” Sherard said. “And if that had been something that could blow up, this would have been a much different accident.”

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

SCHOOLS FROM PAGE 1

in an interview the night before the vote. Vulanovic said she once had to help disinfect her son’s kindergarten classroom due to a leak of raw sewage.

The seven other schools included in the second phase are Brandywine Area and Robert Frost PK-8 academies, as well as Margaret Brent, Templeton, James Duckworth, Fairwood Area and Springhill Lake elementary schools.

Five of the six schools in the first round of the public-private partnership, including Hyattsville Middle School, opened their doors for the 2023-24 school year.

The final school is scheduled to open at the end of November.

‘IT’S UNFAIR TO THE STAFF AND STUDENTS’

Page 11

Blueprint schools projects, argued the MOU adds an extra layer of protection for workers.

There are two pending wage disputes, representing 13 Phase I workers and subcontractors, according to a report from PGCPS submitted on BoardDocs. More than 4,600 people were employed for the opening phase.

The meeting concluded with the board voting against the approval initially and deciding to reconvene on Sept. 28.

In the seven days between votes, the Hyattsville community went on the offensive to advocate for the eight schools to be approved.

Daniel Broder, the head of the Hyattsville Educational Facilities Task Force, urged the community to write letters to elected officials on a community listserv.

Nearly 40 parents of PGCPS students, including a number of Hyattsville residents, are attributed as authors of a Maryland Matters opinion piece titled “Prince George’s kids need new buildings now.” The night before the special meeting, a contingent of Hyattsville Elementary parents traveled to High Point High School to advocate at a town hall held by PGCPS SuperIntendent Millard House II. “It's unfair to the staff and the students; it’s disappointing that folks are putting politics and special interests over the needs of the kids,” Vulanovic, president of the Hyattsville Elementary PTA, said. “It's just very infuriating and

Hyattsville Elementary School is one of eight schools that is to be constructed as part of the second phase of the Prince George’s County Blueprint Schools program. COURTESY OF FREDDY WOLFE

frustrating and disheartening.”

During the public comment session preceding the vote at the Sept. 28 meeting, more than a dozen people, including two first- and one fifth-grade Hyattsville Elementary student, numerous parents and community members, all advocated for the approval of the developer and for the urgency of the next phase of the project.

In an email, Boozer-Strother lauded the continued commitment of community members who spoke at the meeting.

“Thursday night showed the best of PGCPS: Passionate parents invested in our neighborhood schools and willing to speak out to make sure we put kids first.

They’re tired of games, they're tired of politics. I'm so proud to represent the Hyattsville community,” Boozer-Strother wrote.

In the midst of parents and children, Tonya Wingfield, speaking on behalf of the Citizens for

The approval of the program on Sept. 28 came a week after the board first tried to name a preferred developer for Phase II. On Sept. 21, the board of education meeting started with a celebration of the six schools completed in Phase I of the county’s Blueprint schools program.

However, that meeting ended without approval of the developer. A motion requiring PGCPS to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Baltimore–D.C. Building Trades Council, directing the developer to negotiate a project labor agreement (PLA) for the project, caused unresolved division. A PLA sets out conditions under which the developer will hire and work with both unionized and non-unionized trades.

The MOU was not on the agenda, nor was it in BoardDocs, where necessary documents for meetings are placed in compliance with the MaryUNDER CONTRACT land Open Meetings Act. Pamela Boozer-Strother, who represents Hyattsville as the District 3 member of the board, described the MOU as “not official business” and added she had not read the document, which had been emailed to board members by the union prior to the meeting. “I didn’t think that’s the way you do partnership,” she said, adding 5116 Decatur Street, Hyattsville Super charming rambler with an open kitchen with all new SS apthat a MOU is typically “a partpliances! Renovated bath and gorgeous wood floors. Big beautiful nership discussion.” lot with a gazebo and firepit. Listed for $435,000 and under contract within 5 days!

The first round of schools were built using union labor without SOLD a PLA, as mentioned during the 5606 Jamestown meeting and corroborated by Road, Hyattsville items in BoardDocs. AdditionWelcome to our new neighbors! I helped ally, the Phase II request for the buyers purchase this lovely home! proposals required the selected Sold for $470,000! developer to engage in “good faith” negotiations with local unions.

Multiple board members, citing concerns about wage theft 6013 Hyattsville, lawsuits related to44th theAve. Phase I listed for $415,000, sold for $429,000!

Accountability in Governance, called last-minute changes to the language of legislation “deceptive.” Updated language was posted in BoardDocs the day after the Sept. 21 vote, but by Sept.

28, multiple speakers attested to the language being altered the day before the meeting.

Once open discussion among board members started, questions about the changed terms and a lack of notice became main concerns. Board member Juanita Miller, one of four appointed board members, said during the meeting that there were three changes made on Sept. 27, with the final alteration made at 10 p.m.

“We have not seen these changes; they were mentioned today, but that is unheard of,” Miller said during the virtual meeting. “This is political jockeying and we should not continue to tolerate it.”

Eventually, amendments were

made to go back to the original language given to the board, and the vote passed. Included in the prevailing motion is a requirement for the developer to establish a project labor agreement, or PLA. The vote passed nearly unanimously. Walter L. Fields (appointed), was the lone person to vote against it, and Jonathon Briggs (District 2) missed the vote. Briggs was present at the meeting, but did not say anything when his name was called.

A POTENTIAL TIMELINE Broder said he’s been told that Hyattsville Elementary will be closed during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years while students are in a swing space, with the school reopening in the fall of 2028.

Although the timeline is still subject to change, Broder said he is confident the timeline will be maintained, considering the first phase finished on time despite operating through a pandemic.

Despite questions about labor agreements, last-minute language changes and a special meeting being needed, Phase II construction will proceed.

“I’m very pleased with the end result,” said Vulanovic. “I’m also feeling extremely frustrated that it took this much pressure from parents and from the public.”

Shaun Chornobroff is a graduate journalism student at the University of Maryland.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2023

Page 12

MONARCHS FROM PAGE 6

Just this past year, researchers also discovered a previously unknown overwintering population of monarchs in the coastal swamps of South Carolina.

Even with these variations on their migration theme, it’s true that monarch butterflies are probably much less common

than they were just 75 years ago — and in some places, dramatically so. Some organizations have even called for monarchs to be listed as an endangered species.

Paradoxically, though, they are still probably much more common than they were when Europeans colonized North America.

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of milkweed, a widespread genus of wildflowers (Asclepias) found across the United States and the sole food source for monarch caterpillars. The most common milkweeds are considered early succession plants, plants that have adapted to and thrive in continuously disturbed soils. European settlers, many if not most of whom were farmers, and the sodbusters of the 1800s

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created sizable tracts of such soil. More recently, Big Ag has created even broader expanses of tilled soil for crop monocultures. Once forests or prairies reassert themselves, though, milkweed dies out quickly.

Paleopalynologists — researchers who study ancient pollen — have traced two distinct milkweed population booms over the past 25,000 years, first when the great ice sheets of the Pleistocene retreated about 12,000 years ago and left behind bare ground, and again beginning about 250 years ago when large-scale conversion of forest to agriculture began in the U.S. Both transitions opened up vast acreages where milkweed, which had likely been uncommon, could grow. Monarchs would have been uncommon too — much less common than they are now.

There is no question that monarch populations today are under stress from severe weather exacerbated by climate change, human activities that alter their habitat, and widespread use of herbicides and pesticides.

The standard solution offered by many conservation groups is to plant more milkweed, and that may help the midwestern monarchs. In Maryland, however, and in much of the eastern United States, there is more

than enough milkweed. It’s so abundant, in fact, that much of it goes unused during the summer by the small butterfly population that remains in the midAtlantic. Like many of us, most monarchs continue northward for the summer where it is cooler and there are fewer diseases and predators, returning to Maryland only on their southward sojourn.

It's never a bad idea to plant milkweed, which supports a lot of other native pollinators, too.

But Marylanders can help monarchs most by planting nectarrich, late fall flowers, especially native ones like asters, goldenrods, bonesets and ironweeds.

While we won’t see spectacular mass migrations of monarchs here, we’ll see our own branches of the river of orange flowing through our backyards.

Want to watch the migration in progress? Visit this interactive map (tinyurl.com/3eabjay9) from Journey North.

Have questions for Rick about the world of nature in and around the city, or suggestions for future Re-wilding Route 1 columns? Drop him a note at rborchelt@gmail.com

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